Sexuality

Parents As Partners: The Needham Public Schools Wellness Department provides curriculum and instruction designed to help students make good decisions, and practice healthy behaviors. We understand that this is an important endeavor and it requires a strong partnership with parents. We believe that parents are their children's primary educator and that each family has it's own values and beliefs about sex and sexuality. This proposed curriculum, therefore will include homework assignments that will encourage students to discuss topics that are being covered in class with a parent/guardian or other trusted adult. This will ensure that parents will have opportunities to share information that is important to them with their own children. This web-site is designed to be a communication tool for parents. It will provide parents with information about our health curriculum and/or provide resources that may be useful in talking with your child(ren) about important topics.

Parent Notification: Parents of children who are in grades where sexuality education content will be taught (grades 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11) will receive a letter in the fall that will notify them that topics related to sex and sexuality will be included in their son/daughters health classes. Prior to the course starting, a second notification will be sent to parents through the principals='s list-serve or in some cases, from your child's teacher. Under Massachusetts law, parents have the right to opt their child out of any single lesson or out of an entire unit that includes information about human sexuality. Parents can do this by writing a note or letter to the building principal requesting that their child be opted out of the sexuality portion of the health education curriculum. If a parent chooses to do so, an appropriate alternative activity will be provided for their son/daughter.